Hutto DEIB Commission and Library Advisory Board form working groups for seniors, veterans and small businesses

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Commission met with the Library Advisory Board and agreed to form three joint working groups focused on senior citizens, veterans and small businesses to coordinate programming and outreach. Commissioners and library leaders described pilot approaches including pop-up senior social hours, inserts in the library’s "Golden Connections" delivery and rotating veterans benefits office hours at the library.

"The public library is an ideal space in my personal opinion to make sure that that continues to happen," the acting chair said, framing the library as an accessible place for community programs. Commissioners emphasized measurable pilots and scoping before larger expenditures: the commission has set aside $1,500 for initial scoping work, surveys and outreach design to test how a printed resource or other materials would reach seniors.

Library advisory board members offered examples of existing programs—book clubs, social hours and partnerships with local resource centers—that can be scaled or adapted in partnership with the DEIB Commission. Staff and commissioners agreed to form a small working group to refine outreach methods and report back; an orientation for the new working groups is planned for October and listening posts were postponed to January 2026 to allow coordination and recruitment.